in need...

hello everyone,,, hi im jojo from the PHILIPPINES, im also a fire fighter for 10 years and i think being a firefighter needs everything when it comes to performing our duty. well i said this things because , we are a kind of firefighters who are in need of right tools and equipment and right protective gears for us to do our tasks well. we have 1 central station and 2 sub- station and 30 personnel in operation division. but the thing is,, we only have 5 pairs of boots, 12 fire coats and 1 s.c.b.a.... god knows how we wanted to do our job well, but how can we do that fi thats the only thing we had.guys, the reason why I write here is to solicit something from you guys, that can be useful to us,,, something that can make us feel more safe in times of fire emergency.being brave and gutsy is not enough to be a better firefighter, we also need safety equipment,, after all safety first,,, right? guys im knocking at your heart to share us your used equipment to donate to our station for us to use it in times of emergency....i think fireboots is our much needed things now,even if its old, if you guys have spare pls help us..... what ever you can give is mean a lot to us,,,,im begging you because, the govt cant support what we need,, thats why i came up with this idea of soliciting from you.....i feel ashamed but i know someone has to do something for the betterment of our services.... guys no matter what , i can say thank you all.....what ever you can give is a big moral boost in each everyone of us here in antipolo city fire dept. thanks again and be safe.... god bless

I agree...but please don't bash the guy because of it. He didn't do anything wrong.

I dont think that anyone is bashing him, only making a statement that there are many, many depts here in the US that cannot buy anything due to keeping the lights on and fuel in the trucks. I know several depts that are using gear that is 18 years +, trucks that are 30 yrs + because they dont run enough calls to get grant help from AFG. Most of the time these types of depts are too proud or ashamed to ask for help. Help your own in your country first, then help others.

There is not anything in that message that can be construed as harsh,
hateful, bashing, nor even suggest that I am doing anything that should
require anyone getting a break.

It is a simple fact. Departments here in the US need help too. Lots of
departments lacking basic safety gear - for a variety of reasons. I happen
to think that we need to take care of the US first.

It is not a hateful outlook, nor is it bigoted, racial, etc.

I wish the guy luck in his endeavors, I just also know the vast majority
of departments in the US feel the same way I do - keep the aid in the US. When
we got that covered then we can worry about other countries.

It is also posted to remind those departments that help is still needed, and if they
care to donate to needy US departments, I will help with shipping to departments in the
areas that my company operates in.

Perhaps the OP is not aware that we have pretty poor conditions with many
of our areas also.

I don't think you can compare our "poor conditions" with those in the Phillipines.

All that said, I do agree with you that we should support those US departments that need it.

Its hard to compare apples to apples when you are not comparing Americans to Americans. We need to help the FDs in the US before we help anyone else. I'm sure there is a need in the Phillipines, just like the need is in other countries.